Bangkok – Sri Lanka’s Primary Industry Minister Daya D.K. Gamage visited Thailand and was received by Thai Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn today.
His visit came in advance of Deputy Thai Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak’s upcoming official tour to Sri Lanka between March 9 and 12, which is aimed at improving trade relationships between the two countries.
Mr. Somkid’s planned visit to Sri Lanka will involve a high-level government dialogue, a Business Forum and a Business Matching fair to promote economic ties between the two countries.
Sri Lanka offers promising potentials for Thailand’s jewelry, fishery, pharmaceutical, agricultural sectors and tourism industry.
Mrs. Apiradi said the Sri Lankan government is interested in inviting Thai businesses to invest in its infrastructure development projects such as mass transit construction and fishery. Besides, Sri Lanka needs investment in food processing industry while its tourism sector is yet to be developd to draw visitors from Thailand, given Sri Lanka’s abundance of Buddhist religious sites and attractions. ”
Sri Lanka has become Thailand’s fourth largest trading partner in the South Asia region, accounting for 488 million USD in trade and representing 0.12 percent in a total of Thailand’s trade value. Thailand has had 380 million USD in trade surplus to Sri Lanka.
